The Best Images of San Diego Comic Con

Our good friend Jason Pendleton recently came back from the San Diego International Comic Con a few weeks ago. We asked him to send in a few photos for us to share with you. This comic con is the worlds largest and plays host to many studio panels. industry insiders, gamers, cosplay, and hobbyist of the industry. Armed with his camera and smile Jason sent us some amazing photos and we want to share them with you. (All images are copyrighted)

Jason Pendleton is photographer based in Wyoming and has an impressive portfolio. We consider him one of the best concert/event photographers around. Check out his site HERE.

Check Out More Photos from The San Diego International Comic Con Here

Robert Plant Would Be Proud | A Led Zeppelin Chef's Tasting @ Nocturne Jazz

Image: diningout.com

Nocturne’s jazz lounge turned foodie haven is making waves in Denver’s culinary scene. Not only are they a pioneer in their industry, they’re forging the path. “More than just jazz and a proper cocktail, Nocturne explores how the arts of food and music can be combined. From lighter ‘sound bites’ of cheeses and charcuterie to a full five course chef's tasting menu, Nocturne has something to appease all appetites.” For the past year Nocturne has wowed their diners with vivid and creative interpretations of iconic albums and artists and this rendition was no exception. 


Each season Chef Greg Weadick and the Nocturne culinary team select an iconic album that becomes the weekly rendition performance and inspires a special “Renditions” menu to complement. This season’s album is Led Zeppelin’s Houses of the Holy performed by the Dave Devine Trio every Wednesday starting at 7pm through the first week of September. Ultra5280 indulged in the complete sensory experience which paired the recognizable rolling riffs of Led Zeppelin’s musical catalogue with a culinary experience imbued with innovation and enthusiasm. 


For every Rendition the culinary team studies, the chosen album in depth “to bring a thoughtful expression of musical ideas to the table through texture, color, flavor, and technique.” Not only is the Chef enthusiastic about the menu he is creating, but the culinary team, the Sommelier and even the wait staff were noticeably excited to share, discuss, and hear feedback on the dishes and paired drinks. The band was equally excited to play Led Zeppelin songs and Houses of the Holy was the first CD Dave Devine purchased with his own money back in the 80s. All of this enthusiasm and passion for the album is apparent and makes for a magical evening in a venue to match. 


The Dave Devine Trio interpreted the album into a jazz format as Nocturne is a jazz club, and with only a drummer, standup bassist and guitarist, they recreated the album in a way that was recognizable, yet also jazzy and improvisational. “The idea is to start with the song’s version the audience knows and then find ways to exploit small features of the song without losing the overall vibe each one creates,” explains Devine. This was appreciated as we went there wanting to hear Led Zeppelin, wanting to know the song, hum along, and listen in anticipation for the big buildups and crazy crescendos we love in Led Zeppelin’s music. “Using recognizable parts from the songs (guitar riffs, specific bass lines and drum patters, etc) establishes that recognizable tune, then I try to incorporate as much of the vocal melody with my guitar part as possible,” says Devine. “We deviate from these parts throughout the song however to build tension, and then resolve back to them to create a sense of arriving, or going back home.” In addition to the improvisation the Trio imparts, the set list itself is different each week, spanning the entire catalogue and the band experiments during every performance to keep things interesting for them as well as for repeat guests. 


The Renditions menu for this season was extremely interesting, either turning very common ingredients into things we had never seen before, like a tomato sponge, or utilizing ingredients that we had to Google to figure out. The Chef’s Tasting menu is composed of five courses for $55 that we feel truly translates the selected songs into a tangible, edible display. The tasting began with Over The Hills And Far Away which featured duck prosciutto, stone fruit tartar and lavender panna cotta, a batch of ingredients that would not typically be found together within the circumference of your plate. The saltiness of the prosciutto was offset by the creaminess of the panna cotta and together they all melted inside your mouth as if in a brackish sanctuary. Perhaps the most intriguing dish of the evening followed next, set to the tune of Zeppelin's classic, The Song Remains The Same, but presenting itself as something far from the norm. The dish featured a tomato sponge that held the composition of a marshmallow, briny oysters, scallop chips and seaweed ice. The innovativeness and exploratory instincts within the second course were uncomparable. The chef and staff have full creative authority over composition of the meal leading to 100% authenticity within their dishes... and we can truly say we’ve never tasted anything like it. 


The meat and potatoes of the tasting were presented in the next two courses. Rain Song covers the four seasons, so the culinary team created a dish that incorporated the tastes, sights, and crops of each of the four seasons. We really enjoyed this hearty spectrum of the seasons featuring smoked pork cheek in a fig ragout representing summer, spring onion confit, onion ash for autumn, and a good sprinkling of Gruyere Truffle snow. The Ocean followed suit and highlighted the salt and robustness of life under water. The dish revolved around a perfectly cooked piece of black cod and sauteed greens with just a hint of chile peppered throughout the plate that added an interesting heat to the dish. The course ended with a stegosaurus dessert (not actual name) inspired by Zeppelin’s song, D’yer Mak’er. Brownie and raspberry chips stuck out of the coconut mango sorbet reflecting the shape of the prehistoric spines of the stegosaurus. All of this was placed atop a spiced chocolate pudding which added a thoughtful heat to an otherwise sweet end to our meal. 


While the five course menu is highly recommended from your Ultra5280 staff, Nocturne also has a bunch of regular and delicious staples. For those who want a safe standard they know they’ll enjoy, there are sandwiches with house made pomme frites and a chimichurri hanger steak cooked to your preference. A personal and staff favorite is the Garden salad composed of hydroponic red oak Bibb lettuce, arugula, shaved carrot and fennel, cherry tomatoes, roasted beets, dragon beans, and roasted pepper vinaigrette - featuring many vegetables from their own garden! 


From drinks after work to late night bubbles (50% off after 11pm) and date nights to anniversary celebrations, Nocturne has a bit of everything to impress anyone. Our love of jazz and great food has finally come to fruition and found a home within RiNo’s Nocturne. You can experience the Led Zeppelin 5 course dinner/jazz every Wednesday night from 6:00pm to 12:30am. For more information visit: www.nocturnejazz.com 

Reviewed by Tiffany Candelaria 

Venturing Inside A Donald Trump Rally

I’ll start by explaining myself and my bias, I was Bernie delegate this year for my Congressional District in Colorado, and while I don’t consider myself a Bernie or Bust-er, I do consider myself a conscientious voter who’s support and trust must be won to earn my vote. As a lifetime Democrat it has been a painful experience to feel my voice being muted and disregarded by my party and the media, all while being expected to fall into line and join the Hillary train without any motivation other than the Never Trump movement. Trying to be as open and unbiased as I could muster, I decided I would attend the Trump rally that was happening in Colorado in the days after the Democratic National Convention. I had spent the last year hearing the media incorrectly portray Bernie and his supporters to skew support towards Clinton. It was with this experience I figured I owed Trump at least a chance to prove that he wasn't the monster that the media said he was, especially since the recent Wikileaks showed that Clinton campaign had been actively pushing for a media smear campaign against him.

When I walked into the rally I was struck by the perfection of the location they had chosen, it was an aeronautical museum filled with fighter jets and a gigantic American flag hanging at the end of the hanger. It screamed American values and showed support for the military, what more could want out of a backdrop?  

The media had to arrive early, so we had a long wait between our arrival and Trump’s speech.  In those three hours I spent my time meandering around the crowd and was struck by the normalcy of everyone there. I had expected that my liberalness would stick out on me like a sore thumb, and that insults would be hurled in my direction. That wasn't the case for the most part, everyone was incredibly nice to me, save for one woman whom after giving me permission to take her family’s photo (I’ve not included it for the sake of her children's’ privacy) came running after me to investigate if I was a liberal.

The one thing that stood out most was the incredible lack of diversity of the crowd. Out of a crowd of about 7,000, I saw only a handful of people of color. Trump’s vision of a great America is clearly one of absolutely no diversity. It was obvious from the crowd that Trump has tapped into the ignorance of the #AllLivesMatter movement that is incapable of understanding that bringing everyone up to the same socio-economic level doesn't mean that their own rights and freedoms will be removed. 

The speakers before Trump seemed to try and counteract this lack of diversity in the crowd, but instead that only seemed to highlight it. The first speaker was a gay man whom ran a business in Colorado whom argued that the Left doesn't own the support of everyone in the LGBTQ community and that the GOP cares about the LGBTQ too. It was painful to listen to his words given that the GOP just fought to place conversion therapy and revoking equal marriage rights on their party platform a week earlier. He also had to awkwardly plead to get the crowd to do a chant of “Lock her up” during which I heard one man scream, “Hang her” repetitively. The next speaker was an alternate delegate at the RNC whom was a black female. During both speakers it seemed as if the crowd was justifying the institutionalized racism and homophobia of the GOP platform as being okay because these two speakers agreed with it.

When Trump finally spoke, I was horrified with the disjointedness of his speech.  It was utterly incoherent due to the lack of his attention span. He bounced from one idea to another and back again with no rhyme or reason. It was painful to watch and difficult to try and keep up with. His arguments weren't thought out and the specific facts he used to justify them were based on data that was conveniently skewed to make his point but in proper context actually did the opposite.  For the most part his speech just felt like the ramblings of your crazy uncle that likes the sound of his own voice a little too much. But, there were some scary notes to it, most notably when he spoke of the usefulness of torture and that he believed it to be an effective, ethical and reliable source of information despite a vast amount of research that has consistently pointed out the opposite to be true.

The thing about this rally was that it wasn’t the Fascist horror show that I was expecting; instead it was just a sad display of ignorance and fear mongering. These were people that were goaded into believing that the elevation of people that are different than them be it culturally, ethnically, religiously or otherwise, would cause danger to their lives or lifestyle. These are people that were told by the 24-hour news cycle that “Islamic extremism” is the most dangerous thing in their life or that there is an impending race war. It was these fears that Trump has able to tap into and exploit. That is what is scary about Trump more than anything that he is vocalizing the fears and ignorance that white America had previously been too politically correct to voice proudly. I don't think Trump is the monster the media has made him out to be, not because his ideas and opinions aren't scary, but rather because they give him credit for a level of sophistication and thought to his campaign that simply doesn't exist. 

-Words and photos by Emily Brie Equi (Special Contributor)

Foodie Fest Delivered Big Eats with Small Lines

Ultra5280’s Lifestyle staff along with many other devout epicureans (it sold out) got their fill at EatDenver’s foodie fiesta, The Big Eat. It returned for its sixth year to the Denver Center Performing Arts Complex last Thursday with over 50 of Denver’s best restaurants, along with brews, wines, spirits and entertainment.

There were many tasty meat dishes, as one would expect in the Colorado culinary scene, but there was also a surprisingly large assortment of seafood as well. We saw ceviche, sushi, salted cod, a baguette and Lox topped with not capers, but caviar from Rosenberg's Bagels & Delicatessen, and Jax Fish House and Blue Island Oyster Bar were hot stops with their fresh oyster bar. In fact, it seemed about 40 percent of the entrées offered were seafood based, while the other 40 percent were red meat, 5 percent chicken, and 5 percent veggie. We eat all foods, so we enjoyed it all, but there was one vegetarian dish that I thought was as good as any of the other entrees. Vital Root, the newest addition to Cucci’s Edible Beats restaurants, showcased their sunflower seed risotto which was hearty yet fresh and crisp with snap peas, sautéed mushrooms, carrots, chive pesto and pecorino cheese. The texture, taste, and nutrition were all top notch in this dish.

There were a couple surprising standout dishes as well, mainly because of the restaurants who served them. For “most pleasantly surprising” was Appaloosa Grill, you know the place you walk by on the 16th street mall, sometimes stopping in for a cheap happy hour drinks? Well it turns out they make a mean lamb chop, and I mean it came perfectly cooked, topped with toasted nuts and a cherry, peppadew custard, Dijon mustard, all atop a bed of dressed greens. Looking at their website, it appears Appaloosa has a bunch of potentially delectable dishes and makes most with locally sourced ingredients on site! Next time we’ll have to go for cheap drinks and dinner.

Sweet treats were scattered throughout the event, but we’ll finish up this article with them as if that’s what we really did on Thursday. . . Snooze was there with a peach pancake, DBar with a berry and custard trifle, French toast with salted tequila caramel from El Camino, cherry shortcake from Sugarmill, La Loma with churros, and sticky bread from The Lobby. Happy Bakeshop had a full display of sweet treats for every palette and even allergy, such as gluten-free carrot (cup)cakes, French macarons, and Scotcheroos which are peanut butter rice crispy treats with chocolate butterscotch topping. Between the two of us we tried (aka devoured) them all.

The beverage and entertainment categories of the event did not disappoint either and were likewise scattered throughout. We saw La Pompe Jazz playing and some legit swing dancers and on the far end of the event we watched an amazing group of break dancers called Block 1750. We drank local brews such as Great Divide and Call to Arms, sampled wine from The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, and drank some refreshing craft cocktails from Golden Moon Distillery and Woody Creek Distillers.

What made the event even better was how easy it was to navigate and the lack of lines! Most food/booze events we’ve attended are often so full of lines you don’t get a chance to try everything or even really enjoy what you are sampling because you’re standing in the next line or walking and talking while trying to chew. The Big Eat managed to keep waits to a minimum, even at the hottest restaurant stops and craft cocktail bars. Tables and seating were scarce, which made eating hard to do while juggling your glass and plate(s), but the overall vibe was relaxed and allowed guests to take their time without fear of missing any of the offerings. We feel that The Big Eat was very much worth the ticket price ($50) and was a fun and efficient way to say you’ve eaten at 50 of Denver’s best restaurants! We like to brag.

 Words by Tiffany Candelaria photos by McClain Morris

Denver's Weekend Lineup

Whether you're soaking up the sun in the mountains or exploring our urban jungle, there's plenty to do in the Mile High City this weekend. From experiencing the top 50+ eateries for $50 at The Big Eat, tasting the globe at a free downtown Bazaar, dancing at summer block parties, catching Pokemon at BBQs, enjoying live music and more... Here's Ultra5280's guide of what to do this weekend!

The Big Eat @ the Galleria at the Denver Performing Arts Complex 7/14

Curated by EatDenver, Big Eat celebrates celebrate Denver's food, art, and drink community. The giant party is a slice of Denver's thriving cultural scene. Bringing together 50+ locally owned and operated restaurants, tickets include unlimited bites, beer, wine, and cocktails.

Alf Queso 45+1 DJ set with Chris Dismuke @ Illegal Pete's Colfax 7/14

Free show starts at 9pm. Happy hour also runs 3-8pm daily.

Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival @ Keystone Resort 7/15

The Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival features classes, live music, seminars, tastings and more.

RNDZVS: Surf Rock Party @ Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art 7/15

The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art is hosting a Surf Rock Party, the second event in its youth-oriented RNDZVS series. “This is a brand-new pop-up series for the 21-and-up crowd that targets places often overlooked and underused,” says BMoCA’s director of education, Nicole Dial-Kay.

Call to Arms Brewing Company Anniversary Party @ 4526 Tennyson 7/16

Celebrating the anniversary of their first year open here in Denver with a day-long celebration with live music, 15 beers on tap, BBQ and carnival games with prizes.

LODOlympics @ Starts at Blake Street Tavern 3-9pm 7/16

Five different LoDo bars will host different drinking games–beer pong, corn hole, flip cup and more. Expect free food from burritos to brats, a raffle for Rockies tickets and huge prizes including a $500 private party at Blake Street Tavern. Tickets run $10-15.

The Mile High Global Bazaar @ Skyline Park 7/15, 16 & 17

A 3-day annual celebration of international cultures, arts, crafts, merchandise, food, and music. The event will consist of exhibitors from around the globe representing a vast array of cultures and goods. This event will also feature several live concerts featuring world music, belly dancers, and other entertainers.

Comedian Nikki Glaser 7:15pm, 9:45pm @ Comedy Works South 7/15 & 16

One Flew West @ Fox Theater Boulder 7/16

With The Longest Day of the Year & Whiskey Autumn

The String Cheese Incident @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre 7/15, 16, & 17th

Denver Deluxe Music Festival @ Park Burger RiNo 7/16

Mini music festival and block party presented by Park Burger featuring 10 Barrel Brewing Co. and a handful of Reggae, Jam, Rock, and Blues bands with The Original Wailers headlining. Tickets run $20-30, check Ultra5280’s social media accounts on how to win tickets!

Mini Pokémon GO meet-up @ The promenade by the boathouse in City Park, Denver 7/17

The Pokemon Trainer community in Denver will be meeting up for a fun-filled day of gotta-catch-em-all this Sunday 2-6pm.

Squeaky Bean Farm + Table Dinner @ Acres Farm 7/17

The special dinner will include dishes prepared from fresh produce for a four course dinner highlighting the "progression of a goat." http://www.thesqueakybean.com/#!product-page/niuhf/4d175ca2-0d85-d122-c3e4-f890ebb90962

Candlebox @ Hodi's Half Note 19th and Blake 7/17

Presented by 94.3 and Soda JerkWith Lullwater, Temple Agents.

Sufjan Stevens @ Red Rocks 7/18

With special guests RHYE 7:30pm

 

Denver Deluxe Music Festival | Combining Burgers, Beer and Community

Denver’s music and event scene continues to expand and this weekend there’s a new (mini) music festival happening in RiNo. The Denver Deluxe Music Festival is a block party presented by Park Burger featuring 10 Barrel Brewing Co. who is building their first Colorado location across the street! They'll have two stages of live music playing all day, as well as a few burger and brew stations throughout. All ticket proceeds benefit Denver Urban Gardens, which means you can feel good about partying!

We spoke with Tobias Krause of Two Parts, a local company specializing in food and booze events in the Mile High City. From curating The Westword Music Showcase to the Breck Brew Hootenanny Krause has earned his stripes as a Denver socialite and event guru. Krause said it was Park Burger’s idea back in December to celebrate the summer and their new locations opening around Colorado this year. We can totally relate with dreaming about and planning summer events in the middle of winter! Music, the community, local beer, along with great burgers of course, is what the Park Burger culture is all about. They really wanted to merge all of these things and have a music festival type party because, “food and music naturally go together, they’re comforting, and create a good time,” says Krause. They also wanted to focus on making it an affordable festival option in the heart of the city, while still being able to give proceeds to a local charity at the end of the day.

Coordinating a festival comes with its own set of "to-dos" but for many, Krause included, the most exciting aspect is always booking the talent. When it came time for Two Parts to coordinate with Park Burger in creating the musical lineup they decided to take a different route. “We put a bunch of names out there and went after the bands we’d selected to see who was available. We wanted a lineup that would be approachable and enjoyable for most listeners.” It was also important to them to differentiate their lineup from the other music festivals happening around Denver to make their party different and unique. That ended up becoming a lineup of Reggae, Jam bands, and some Blues and Rock & Roll, which we feel fits just right with a summer block party. After the headlining band The Original Wailers, a late night set starting at 8pm will feature Rob Drabkin, followed by Technicolor Tone Factory on the Park Burger patio! So grab a burger, a beer, and sway the day away.

Music Line-up:

The Original Wailers

The Hip Abduction

Rob Drabkin

Musketeer Gripweed

Jonathon Boogie Long

Technicolor Tone Factory

ATOMGA

Park Burger RiNo – 2615 Walnut St

$20 Festival Pass — entry, access to all live music, 1 beer token

$30 Deluxe Festival Pass — entry, access to all live music, Deluxe Burger by Park Burger (beef / veggie options), 2 beer tokens

http://denverdeluxe.com

We also had a chance to chat with ATOMGA, the Park Burger house band for the day. They are playing half hour sets in between the main stage sets, “It’s going to be a really unique and also challenging set up to arrange our show in this (incremental) way. We’ve never done anything like this and our songs are all really long, so we’ve been figuring out the set list.”

ATOMGA started back in 2011 with a whopping twelve members, down to just ten these days, and aim to be purveyors of afrobeat to the masses. “Our musical backbone is clearly influenced by Fela Kuti, Orlando Julius, and other afrobeat forefathers, but we can't help but naturally infuse styles that we grew up,” they explain. You'll hear the likes of blues, funk, and progressive rock laced throughout their music. “When you see people from all walks of life getting down to our performances coupled with compliments from Femi Kuti's [Fela Kuti's eldest son] band saying 'Those white people play some great lines!,' then we feel like we're achieving exactly what we set out to do!” At their ongoing show Saturday you’ll see great horn arrangements, guitars, piano, and jazzy bits with lots of good rhythm. ATOMGA is “one good ol’ happy family of musicians”.

They’re very excited to play Park Burger’s first music festival and were specifically asked if they would be the official house band of the show, having worked with event company Two Parts before. They’ve also started to become a regular in the Colorado music scene playing the Crestone, CO Music Festival, Taste of Fort Collins, Tour de Fat in Fort Collins, Durango’s Oktoberfest, and Arise Music Festival in Loveland.  They will be embarking on their first Midwest Tour next month! Between their love for parties, burgers and a chance to share a bill with The Original Wailers, ATOMGA is stoked to be a part of the first annual Denver Deluxe Music Festival and plans on dancing the day away with you all!

What Independent Dining Means to Denver | Interview with EatDenver Executive Director Adam Schlegel

All Photos from, From The Hip Photography

To Denver dwellers our local dining scene is so much more than a place to grab a bite after work. Food brings people together, it differentiates us from other cities and it defines our culture. The Big Eat curated by EatDenver celebrates Denver's originality and growth while highlighting our local pioneers in the culinary field. Bringing together 50+ locally owned and operated restaurants is no easy feat... But, for EatDenver it's a labor of love and devotion to this great city we're all lucky enough to call home. Executive Director, Adam Schlegel is bursting with Denver pride and it's easy for us to see why. Over the past decade Denver has grown from a small awkward batch of Arby's and Chili's on the 16th Street Mall to a diverse and thriving dining scene scattered throughout multiple neighborhoods. The Big Eat is a representation of Denver, how far we've come and where we're headed... Join us in celebrating this amazing city next Thursday, July 14th from 6pm - 9pm at the DCPA. Tickets include unlimited food and booze from the best restaurants our fair city has to offer, purchase them here: http://eatdenver.com/the-big-eat-2016/

We had the opportunity to chat with Big Eat Executive Director Adam Schlegel about Denver pride and his go to restaurant choices for every occasion. 

We believe that community is what sets Denver apart from the bigger cities. Where did you get the idea to bring together 50+ restaurateurs and how did you make it a reality? 

EatDenver represents a tremendous community, over 130 locally owned, independent restaurants. The mere fact that an organization like this exists is a testament to our sense of community, of collaboration and working towards rising the tide. EatDenver began in 2007 when a group of local owners got together in discussing what works, what hurts, how to ensure our people realize the emergence of the Denver dining scene. Over the past ten years, our organization has developed to not only highlight this to everyone, but also create open dialogue and share experiences. We all have hard times finding enough staff, get into a jam with refrigerators that go out, or want to unite and discover better sustainability practices. Indeed the highlight of EatDenver now lies in the network, working with newbies to our forebearers in the restaurant industry to continue highlighting the importance of your locally owned, independently ran dining scene.

Restaurants are so often a part of community events, and it just so happens that those so often asked represent EatDenver. What could be better than working with our dynamic group and building towards a celebration of food, hospitality, drink and the essence of Denver? 

Denver’s recent surge in popularity has also sparked an uptake in our independent restaurant scene. We are seeing chefs who would have previously only worked in New York, Chicago and LA move to the Mile High. Why do you think these chefs are opting for a smaller city like Denver?

Denver feels like the land of opportunity. It represents this incredible lifestyle and ethic that work can fuel your passion. In Denver, you can create new, can find opportunities, and you’re constantly surrounded by an entrepreneurial and altruistic audience. It’s hard to make that splash in the bigger cities. There is a genuine belief, certainly in the many chefs and restaurateurs that I’m fortunate to work with, that Denver can and should be the next great city. The opportunity to have a hand in that is so exciting.

This is not a favorites game… but if you had to choose one Denver Big Eat restaurant for the following occasions which one would it be:

Ugh. Not my favorite game at all, and my role is a bit Switzerland. And since we have two little ones, dining isn’t as frequent as we’d like. That said, I’ll take roll call from my most recent endeavours:
Rooftop: Avanti. It’s just silly, and the bar team there is incredible.
Afterwork drinks: Ace. Especially in the summer. LowDown Brewery as well. And Vine St. I like to explore this category.
Adventurous cocktail: The Way Back. That Chad’s pretty good at his craft.
Date night: Our last date night was progressive, drink/app @ Vesta, my wife insists on always going to ChoLon, bite at The Kitchen, then to oysters @ Jax Downtown, finish up at Mercantile. 
Family dinner: Park Burger on Quebec is an absolute constant in our routine.
Vegetarian: Root Down.Brought some out of towners/vegetarians from Copenhagen here and it may have actually convinced them to move to Denver.
Creativity: Work & Class checks a lot of the boxes, but playfulness with adventure is definitely one of the standouts.
Atmosphere: Beatrice & Woodsley is one of my favorite spots to lose yourself. A whiskey cocktail at the bar and you feel like writing.
Dessert: dBar. Pretty sure this makes up all of the cake my family has eaten in the past 5 years.

 What do you think independent dining brings to a community? How can the impact of independent restaurateurs be measured? 

I often live in a bubble, but I honestly think it’s a driving force behind helping to create this world class city. It’s a testament to where you’ve been and where you are going. Food is culture, where folks meet, celebrate, and engage. And if I think of some of the most vibrant, creative, and impactful cities, independent dining and food show such deep roots. 

Independent restauranteurs are just like artists; the first into neighborhoods, to paint outside the lines, be bold and throw their heart & soul into work. The fact that Denver has so many distinct neighborhoods I think showcases the impact of restaurants who’ve helped pave teh way.

It also helps that it’s one of the first things future conventioneers enquire about, prospective companies relocating, or any traveler. We as a community truly need to work and embrace this culture, it will continue to develop Denver into a great city.

 What does this The Big Eat mean to you? What aftershock do you hope ripples through our community after attending? 

It’s a celebration, and an opportunity to ever enliven the discussion of how fortunate we are to be in Denver at this time. I love seeing so many talented folks enjoying, collaborating and toasting under such an iconic setting as the DCPA. 

I hope people walk away as excited as I am about where our food community has come, and where we are going. And the importance of supporting these artists and entrepreneurs, while realizing it’s the best means of a great time. Denver’s a special place to be.

The Best of Denver Comic Con 2016

One of the lucky things we get to do around here is let our guard down from time to time, in other words reach into our inner geek sanctum. Let's all face it we all have a bit of nerd inside us all. Our fair city played host (to among what seemed 300 other events) the Denver Comic Con on Father's Day weekend. With record breaking numbers upwards of 110,000+ it was the place to be. Three days full of panels, vendors, cosplay, sci-fi and fantasy and more. In fact Denver's version of comic con although still in it's infancy has become one of the biggest in the country trailing only cons in San Diego and New York.

Record attendance of upward of 110,000+ at this years Denver Comic Con

Denver Comic Con as mentioned has only been around for five years but has already made its mark amongst the youth in our city by promoting Pop Culture Classroom. This initiative aims to provide kids an outlet at con to attend and participate in panels, workshops, and use the abundance of resources provided by some of the industry's most beloved professionals in the field. Everything from storytelling to drawing are part of this event and seeing kids use their creativity is something we loved seeing as we witnessed it for three days.

Toys, Toys, and more Toys!!!

Another part of Denver Comic Con is the massive showroom that takes residency at the convention center. This is full of vendors hawking everything from posters to exclusive toys to one of a kind comic books. In fact if you have never attended a comic con set aside some funds as you will spend money one way or another. We found ourselves geeking out over toys all over the place, and yes we did overspend our budget, but hey that's part of attending an event like this. One of our favorite things is getting to sample the official beer of Comic Con every year by Breckenridge Brewery. This year they unveiled their Snape-ricot Ale which also came with an awesome collectors pint. 

Heeelllooo Harley!

The War Boys were in the building!

On elf the other highlights of every comic con is people dressed in cosplay every year. This isn't your typical Halloween party get up either. We are talking crazy, over the top, insane costumes. Some so good you would think they were straight from the movie studio. As with every year we notice trends of popular characters every year, for example last year you couldn't turn left or right without seeing somebody dressed as Deadpool. This year we managed to see our fair amount of Rey from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, a few from Mad Max: Fury Road, but probably the most popular would be Harley Quinn from the upcoming Suicide Squad movie. They were everywhere, we even managed to see a male Harley Quinn (we are still trying to unsee that as we speak). Aside from cosplay one of the other awesome opportunities is getting to see some of tv and movies best in the celebrity area. This year the main attraction was none other than the legendary Stan Lee. He had lines wrapped around the convention all three days with most people waiting hours just to meet and have their photo taken with the main responsible for introducing us to all of our childhood (and adult) superheroes. Other notables were casts from Game of Thrones, Gotham, The Karate Kid, and more. Walking around and seeing Ralph Macchio, it was hard not to think about the importance of "the crane" technique and how it has revolutionized the modern art of kung-fu. Anyways, this was by far the best Denver Comic Con that we have covered and we expect it to keep growing and growing. We will be at San Diego Comic Con in a few weeks and cannot wait to report back from San Diego stay tuned. Check out our slideshow of some of the best images we captured!

Breckenridge Brewery's Latest Mango Mosaic Is Sure To Be A Hit This Summer

The temperatures are heating up here in Denver as we embark on another season of unpredictable, yet warmer weather. A common tradition for most Coloradans is to make for the outdoors to enjoy what Mother Nature is throwing our way. For us that means enjoying our favorite libations with friends and families. The latest creation from Breckenridge Brewery is their new Mango Mosaic Pale Ale. It creatively brings the fine pairing of fine mosaic hops and fruit to your taste buds. The combination is not overbearing at all all is fully balances the taste with a medium body and goes down as smooth as the mountain rivers. We decided to pair our beer with a fine set of delicious street tacos (Al Pastor Style) that made for a perfect evening.

Mango Mosaic brings a lighter, “hops meets fruit” addition to the brewery's year-round portfolio. Available in 6-packs of 12-oz bottles and on draft, the 5.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) pale ale will be available in 35 states where Breckenridge Brewery beer is sold.

The beer will be fully stocked at the office this year just in case we want to take our work outdoors to enjoy (or get happy hour started earlier). Th beer perfectly pairs with any fine Carribean dish as well as any spicier combination of food pairing. We enjoyed ours with some dark spicy chocolate that was a match made in heaven.

"We've used Mosaic hops for several years in other beers, and we love the floral, tropical fruit, earthy characteristics that it gives - great aroma and a sweetness unlike other hops we've experimented with," explains Todd Usry, President of Breckenridge Brewery

 

 

Lifestyle | Bud & Burgers Street Festival Presented by Budweiser | June 4, 2016 | 35th and Walnut

As the weather begins to heat up here in the Mile High City, the city of Denver becomes a playground for any enthusiast of the outdoors. This Saturday RiNo (35th and Walnut) will play host to amazing event featuring two of our favorite things...Burgers & Bud.

Beer season is officially here! And what better way to enjoy a cool, refreshing beer than with a delicious burger and listening to some great music. Join Budweiser as they sponsor the Bud and Burgers Street Festival at 35th and Walnut in RiNo. 

Music performances by Barns Courtney, Pandas and People, and AJ Fullerton will be on hand to get the vibes going. Various Denver chefs will be on hand sampling their awesome burger creations. The event is free to those 21+. We will be there with our burger cravings and thirst quenching Budweiser. #ThisBudsForYou #BudandBurgers #sponsored

Lifestyle | Denver's Newest Booze-Based Festival

Denver event and marketing company, Two Parts, have teamed up with the Rocky Mountain Cider Association to introduce a craft cider festival to Denver this Saturday May 28th! The cleverly named “Pressed Conference” is a first-of-its-kind cider festival for Denver and features 15+ craft cideries from across the Rocky Mountain region showcasing the best pressed apples the region has to offer.

We can look forward to tastings from top cider makers, live music from Robby Peoples, lawn games (at last!) and Baba's Falafel and Keenwah food trucks cooking all day. All attendees will be greeted with a full tasting glass of Molly’s Spirits Barrel Aged Cider from Colorado Cider Company to welcome them to the festival.

Featured at the event are the following Cideries: Anthem Cider, Big B’s Cider, Colorado Cider Company, Colorado Common Cider, Compass Cider, C Squared Cider, Montana CiderWorks, Snow Capped Cider, Stem Ciders, Talbott’s Cider CO., Wandering Aengus Cider, Wild Cider.

We think this is a great way to kick-off summer, enjoy Memorial Day Weekend, and wrap up the first ever Colorado Cider Week! For more info and to purchase tickets visit the link below~

Saturday, May 28th from 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. Highlands Masonic Event Center 3550 Federal Blvd.  Tickets are on sale now for $40 and includes unlimited tastes and commemorative glassware.

www.ThePressedConference.com

2016 Denver Comic Con Beer Release Party | Friday May 20th | Stoney's

Breckenridge Brewery once again joins forces with Denver Comic Con. Since the inaugural convention in 2012, Breckenridge has brewed a special con beer and hosted a "Name the Comic Con Beer" contest. And each year what follows is a wonderful deluge of creative input, street cred for the winners, a beer release party preceding the con and other events in and around the Colorado Convention Center.
 
Breckenridge Brewery congratulates Noah Eisenman and Greg Nuccio, who both suggested "Snape-ricot" as the name for this year's refreshingly crisp apricot lager. The name honors actor Alan Rickman, who played Severus Snape in the Harry Potter film series and recently lost his life to pancreatic cancer.
 
“It’s become a wonderful Denver Comic Con tradition to launch these pop-culture themed beers in the weeks leading up to the con,” said Christina Angel, Denver Comic Con director. “This year’s brew takes on a special significance as a tribute to Alan Rickman, who so masterfully brought Snape to life on the silver screen.”
 
Although the name was chosen by popular vote, the brewery found it to suit the beer quite perfectly. Ryan Workman, Breckenridge Brewery Brand Manager, describes the beer to be more complex than one would guess upon first impression. "The apricot our brewers added to their American lager recipe produced surprising ambiguity, much like Snape himself. It's pale and crisp, but spend a little time with it, and you'll find unexpected layers of interesting personality." Finding more parallels in Snape and Snape-ricot, he shares that the beer is "bitter and cold, yet the fruit magically transforms Snape-ricot into something not sweet, but certainly a little softer than one would've imagined."
 
Snape-ricot will make its first public appearance at Stoney's Bar and Grill on Friday, May 20th, at 7:30 p.m. The first 200 people to order a Snape-ricot will be given a limited edition pint glass featuring the beer's custom label artwork.
 
The beer and pint glasses will also be available at the 3-day Denver Comic Con, which kicks off on June 17th and features such pop culture notables as Stan Lee (Marvel Comics), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones) and Ralph Macchio (the Karate Kid) . Tickets are still available at www.DenverComicCon.com. Additionally, local pubs around the conference will feature the beer with additional pint giveaway promotions.
 
Past winning entries for Breckenridge's Name the Comic Con Beer contest are:
·      2012 Fantastic Pour

·      2013 Caped Brewsader

·      2014 Brews Wayne

·      2015 Hulk's Mash

Lifestyle | The Dawn of Immersive, Experiential Theater in Denver

Ultra5280 was invited to a sneak peek, trial-run performance of the new “360-degree, multi-sensory experience” that is “Sweet & Lucky”. While this article will give you a much better idea than we had, there’s no way we could (or would) describe in words what the “Sweet & Lucky” experience truly was. For starters, everyone’s experience is different. . .

The fact that this immersive theater experience has made it to Denver is a compliment to us Coloradoans. It is a signal to the country that Denver has a palate the size of New York that longs to be satiated. With a bursting food, art and music scene paired with an attitude of possibilities, Denver has been making our tastes known. Zach Morris, co-creational director from the New York company, Third Rail Projects, joined his hometown of Denver to bring our city the experience we have been craving. "We're interested in presenting works in nontraditional contexts, in public spaces," says Morris, "Sweet & Lucky’s" lead director. "As traditional theater is to a novel, our work is to a poem."

Upon our arrival, rather than entering and mingling about in an ordinary lobby, we were instantly transported into the story through an antique store and old timey bar carefully crafted by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts' props team. You mingle and explore the various rooms of the antique store until the "show" begins.

You then embark on this journey, literally you’re walking around, exploring all different scenes, environments, people, periods of time, spectrums of emotion, memories, etc. You’re led through a series of performances with a small group of other spectators that occasionally changes throughout, and it seems like they purposefully take you away from who you came with right from the start. At one point you’re completely alone in a scene with an actor, who speaks to you directly, and waits for you to reply. Honestly, it’s a bit nerve-racking. You never know what to expect or when you’ll be called on to step up and be a part of the scene, which definitely happens. The creators and actors are aware of the emotional response that must elicit in someone coming to an unfamiliar experiential show, who is then separated from the one familiar thing (person) they came with, and is led away into all these different scenes and situations.

As you are led from scene to scene, all of the other small groups are revolving around experiencing the same scenes, but in different orders. Thus, the order you see it in will surely alter your perception of the story. The performance is broken into bits and pieces and the viewers are supposed to fit it together to create a cohesive story. Another factor that makes the experience/story unique to each, is all of the props that you are invited to touch and hold; you will inevitably see and read things while other spectators are busy with other props. You will also hear and see slightly different things depending on how closely you’re paying attention, and feel different emotions depending on all of these factors, along with personal context you overlay. This makes for a truly unique storytelling experience. You are living the story, rather than being told or shown... and in that way you are also creating the story. So just as everyone’s version of any experience is unique to each, so too is the experience you have at “Sweet & Lucky”. And that seems to be the whole point.

At the end of the show, the entire audience is brought back into the large theater space where it began, and just as we all saw the same start to the story, we see the same ending. All that was in between are the fragmented and few memories of a long life lived, and the various tangible objects left behind. Just as in real life, our memories are scattered, subjective, and unique to each.

In an era where some of the most prestigious arts are struggling to bring in an audience, Denver Center for the Performing Arts has embarked on innovative avenues to draw in the Millennial generation. Their plan over the next couple years is to expand the use of the Center to include education, new structures and grassroots programming while also taking their audience from under the dome to completely transform their viewing experience. In a time where we are more likely to interact through technology, our generation is in need of these moments out of the ordinary. We are in need of human interaction and testing the boundaries, in a hands-on way. “Sweet & Lucky” gives this to us through an immersive experience where we become a part of the action, not only able to interact with the actors, but able to touch the props, create our own story lines, and feel that we were a crucial component in the storytelling process.

Sweet & Lucky runs May 17 - June 25. The show is for ages 21 and older, and an on-site bar opens 45 minutes before show time. Two performances June 1 and 8 are open to patrons 18 and older. You will be walking or standing for the duration of the show, and purses and backpacks are not permitted.

http://www.sweetandluckydenver.com/

Tiffany Candelaria & Theresa Dixon

Lifestyle | Breckenridge Brewery Releases New Beer With Free Concert @ Bluebird Theater | May 11

The real MVP this Wednesday will be Breckenridge Brewery's latest debut, the NVP or Nitro Vanilla Porter. Nitro Vanilla Porter (NVP) is the first release in Breckenridge Brewery's all-new line of portable and versatile nitrogenated cans. The 16-oz can presents the ability to drink silky, smooth nitrogen-charged beer outside of the pub. Although a glass displays the cascading effects of the nitrogen head, with Breckenridge’s can design the glass is optional. The Nitro Series from Breckenridge Brewery can be enjoyed anywhere – in a glass or right from the can - and those who attend the free concert get to experience "Nitro on the Go" first-hand. 

The craftsmanship of Vanilla Porter is evidenced in NVP. A variety of malts provide flavors of chocolate, roasted nut, caramel, and coffee. Imported vanilla from Papua New Guinea and Madagascar add complex and exotic flavors to the solid porter. The softening effect of nitrogen creates a velvety mouthfeel and highlights the flavors of the malts and vanilla. NVP presents another delicious way to enjoy Vanilla Porter.

The next release in the series is Nitro Lucky U IPA followed by new seasonal nitro specialties starting in the fall. The Nitro Series is packaged in 4-packs of 16-oz cans and will be sold where other Breckenridge beer is carried.

Breckenridge Brewery is throwing a free concert at the Bluebird Theater in Denver to celebrate the availability of Nitro Vanilla Porter in 16-oz cans. The release party on May 11th toasts the start of an exciting new nitrogen-charged canned beer series.  This free show is open to the public (21+) on a first-come basis with doors opening at 7:00 p.m. until capacity is reached. Each attendee will be given a complimentary can of Nitro Vanilla Porter to enjoy. The Bright Light Social Hour and Dragondeer are to perform. The party provides an introduction to the brewery’s new beer series, and because both bands are signed artists for this summer's Underground Music Showcase which Breckenridge Brewery sponsors, the event doubles as a preview to UMS.  

We were able to talk tacos, football and the Austin music scene with The Bright Light Social Hour before their show on Wednesday for Breckenridge Brewery's Nitro Vanilla Porter release. Check it out below:

Photo Credit: Nicole Fara Silver

1. Let’s start with the name, how did it come about?

Curtis was studying this Indian activist, Arundhati Roy, at Southwestern University where we started the band. She had a quote about the activist’s role as shining a bright light in the dark corners of society. So we kinda took it from there.

 

2. You guys are on the road a lot what are some of your favorite cities and what is a city you haven't played you wish you could?

I really love playing Quebec City. I feel like audiences there see us a strange, exotic thing, like we’re zoo animals. I like feeling like a zoo animal. Mexico City is definitely the most fervent crowd we’ve come across. Our last few shows at the Bluebird and the Ogden are very high on the list too. I really wanna play Berlin.

 

3. You currently reside in Austin, many people claim that the music scene in Denver is starting to mimic that of ATX, touring here and playing here do you see any similarities?

Honestly, we’ve visited Denver a lot but haven’t had much opportunity to go out and see shows and explore the music scene. It does seem that Denver is producing more varied and boundary-pushing styles and artists, so that’s very cool.

 

4. With so many bands hailing from Austin does the scene support each other or is it competitive? And what ever happened to Sound Team?

t’s very supportive and embracing. All my closest friends are musicians from other Austin bands. Plus the city itself as well as several non-profits do a lot to help musicians and the scene by helping provide resources like free legal advice, healthcare, grants and that kinda thing. I never heard of Sound Team til you mentioned it, but I looked them up and to answer your question, they disbanded in 2007 and Bill Baird went solo (one of his records mysteriously appeared in my collection and it’s awesome), and Matt Oliver once recorded a Daytrotter session for us at his studio, Big Orange.

 

5. A couple of you attended the University of Texas, How are we going to do this year in football? (I’m from El Paso and spend a lot of time in Austin and am a big Longhorns fan)

You know I have no idea, but I’m gonna vote for good.

 

6. Your live album was recorded in response to the attacks on France and was recorded live with proceeds going to the French Red Cross. How did that come about and was there any pressure knowing you guys were to be recording live to perform that show?

Haha no we wanted it to be real and have all the warts and gnarl of a real live show. It helps to accept that you’ll never be anywhere close to satisfied with a recording of yourself playing live. That’s what studio albums are for, we just wanted to capture the energy and the moment and do what we could to help.

 

7. Final question. Best breakfast tacos in Austin? Taco Deli or Torchy’s?

Well fuck Torchy’s because the tacos are incredible and we eat there every other week but the tortillas are ALWAYS cold, which is beyond unacceptable. Taco Deli is fantastic, but Veracruz All Natural is my current fav in town.

 

Be sure to get to the Bluebird early as this event is sure to be at capacity early in the evening. With amazing, local music and new local craft - this is one event not to be missed. 

Lifestyle | The Day We Met Grumpy Cat

Who you calling grumpy?

From time to time we often get somewhat starstruck in our daily business here at Ultra5280. From musicians to actors, we often stumble paths in some of our coverage we do here on the site.  This year as we were planning our SXSW coverage we came across the news that Grumpy Cat herself was going to be in Austin the day we arrived. Of course we used that opportunity to get a chance to meet her and learn all about the newest Friskies Cat Food campaign. While not associated with the festival itself, why not take advantage of the large amounts of crowds who were there for the interactive activities that took place.

Lines extended for blocks just for an opportunity to meet Grumpy Cat.

The internet's most iconic judge of all things grumpy.

We hopped off the plane and realized our time was going to be running short as this particular day was the last that Grumpy Cat was going to be there. We got settled in and made our way across town to finally meet this famous feline. Upon our arrival we noticed that the line to see the cat had extended a few blocks down the street and curved around the block. Once inside we were treated to nice air conditioning and a front row seat to meet the most famous cat in the world. Friskies was in town to promote their latest venture called Cat Concoctions. You may be wondering what the hell that is. It is simply summed up as "Curious Combinations. Chosen By Cats." You may be asking yourself what kind of combinations?

“Lamb AND clam? Cats have their own ideas about what they like, which is why Friskies lets cats lead the way in inspiring the unique and unexpected flavor combinations of Cat Concoctions,” says Jessica Nichols, Friskies Brand Manager.

Other flavors include:

  • Chicken in Creamy Crabby Sauce
  • Cod in Cheesy Bacon Flavored Sauce
  • Lamb in Clam Flavored Sauce
  • Scrumptious Salmon & Chicken Liver Dinner Pate

Almost tempting to human palate. The pop up meet and greet gave fans an opportunity to take pictures with the cat and tag them with the #CatConcotions hashtag for everybody to see during SXSW. It was truly one of our highlights during our SXSW stay and while Grumpy Cat graciously declined our interview (she's a diva what do you expect) we were nowhere near "grumpy" as we continued on our journey. 

-Robert Castro

Lifestyle | DINK Independent Comic & Art Expo | March 25-26 | Sherman Events Center

Nerds of a feather flock together....or something like that. This weekend The Denver Independent Comic & Art Expo will grace the Sherman Events Center for two days of complete nerdery (we like to make up words here). If you are a fan of comic books, art, tattoos, and graphic novels this is the place to be.  Tickets packages can be purchased HERE.

What happens when you mix 5 floors of urban art (tattoo and graffiti art) with literature, zines, small press publishers, underground comix and cocktails? We dare you to find out this March 25-26 at the Sherman Street Events Center.
Led by Denver Comic Con co-founder, Charlie LaGreca, the 2-day art expo will include a range of options including an underground comics + dispensary tour with Dope Comix legend Denis Kitchen as well as NY Times best-selling authors, cartoonists, artisans and creators as well as the famed Fantagraphics Publishing. The perfect event for art lovers and indie fans alike, get your tickets early —  prices will increase at the door

Lifestyle | SHOW ALERT: Michael Ian Black to headline Leafly Comedy Tour on March 24th | Free with RSVP

Michael Ian Black is taking over Denver on March 24th at the Gothic Theatre. The versatile comedian has directed, written, and acted in numerous projects. You may be a fan of his sketch comedy work in The State, Viva Variety, and Stella, or perhaps you’re a die-hard lover of the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer or the Bachelor spoof Burning Love. Black has even popped up on Natasha Leggero’s Comedy Central series Another Period – check out season 2 debuting later this year to see these hilarious actors in action!

You can RSVP now and entry is on a first-come, first-served basis, so RSVP early and claim your spot in line early the day of the show to guarantee entry. The show is 21+ only and doors open at 8PM. Be sure to use the hashtag #LEAFLYLOLZ throughout the night on your social media.

In January Leafly kicked off the first stop of the 2016 Leafly Comedy Tour with the very funny T.J. Miller in Seattle, Washington.  Don’t miss this fantastic free (yes, free!) performances featuring Michael Ian Black this Thursday at The Gothic folks.